Colorado’s federal lands become a flashpoint in first governor’s race debate

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, at left, listens to remarks from Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob Beauprez during a debate in Grand Junction Saturday night. (William Woody, Special to The Denver Post.)

If the function in Grand Junction was a sign of the campaigns ahead, two things are clear after their first debate. Incumbent Gov. John Hickenlooper is an intellectual eager to work out solutions for the greater public good. Secondly, Beauprez is a direct-speaking rancher who will take on what he sees as important fights with the federal government.

Hickenlooper’s strongest charge of the night was saying Beauprez, the former congressman, preferred the “Washington way” of combative politics to the “Colorado way” of compromise and solutions. Sunday, Team Beauprez fired back at the umbrage with federal lands as the tip of the rhetorical spear.

While Beauprez said he favored Colorado taking control of its federal holdings, Hickenlooper said the state would have to come up with an estimated $200 million a year just to maintain the extra 24 million acres.

The Beauprez campaign’s press release Sunday highlighted a Hickenlooper quote from the exchange: “I think long-term we’re going to do a lot better by getting the federal government to take care of it.”

A fuller context of the governor’s position should include this quote, as well: “The real solution, I think, is to make sure the federal government does a better job of taking care of our lands, and that’s by joining together with the other Western states.”

As an example, the incumbent talked about how he and Republican Gov. Matt Mead of Wyoming worked together to show how their states are protecting sage grouse habitat to fend off tougher federal regulations.

“Rather than getting in a picked fight with Washington, let’s show them, clearly, how we’re doing this,” he said, spurring applause.

Beauprez responded toughly, “If this was private land and the federal government was the tenant, we’d cancel their lease.”

He raised the ante, “This is a fight we have to wage. If you believe in state sovereignty, if you believe in the way this republic is supposed to work, we need to stand up and push back on the federal government.”

The Beauprez camp also was heralding a new NBC News/Marist College poll Sunday that indicated Hickenlooper’s support had slipped to 43 percent, down from 49 percent in July. Beauprez still trailed in the latest poll at 39 percent. His support was down from 43 percent in July. Libertarian Matthew Hess polled at 5 percent, drawing a conservative bloc that might otherwise side with the Republican. If Hess voters decide to give up on his long-shot third-party bid, that could help Beauprez close the gap.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.